Stove with selectively interchangeable cooking apparatus

ABSTRACT

A cooking stove or range adaptable for conversion to provide for different types of food cooking. The stove has an open pan - like recess means in the top thereof adaptable to selectively receive interchangeable types of cooking units or apparatus therein.

United States Patent [191 Cerola [451 Mar. 19, 1974 1 STOVE WITHSELECTIVELY INTERCHANGEABLE COOKING APPARATUS [75] Inventor: Joseph J.Cerola, Indianapolis, Ind.

[73] Assignee: Jenn-Air Corporation,Indianapolis,

Ind.

22 Filed: Mar. 16, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 235,223

[52] U.S. Cl 99/340, 99/421, 99/422,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.798.930 7/1957 Frost.219/444 X 2.867.711 1/1959 Fisher. Jr. et 21.. 219/444 3.712.819 1/1973Field 99/400 3.161.755 12/1964 Tilus 219/403 3.284.612 11/1966 Hanson219/455 3.548.154 12/1970 Christiansson 219/403 3.674.982 7/1972 Hoyt eta1. 219/403 3.678.844 7/1972 Marshall 99/340 3.444305 5/1969 Happel eta1. 99/340 3.474.724 10/1969 Jenn 99/340 X 1119,089 2/1934 Parker219/454 X 2.843.716 7/1958 Del Francia. 219/447 X 2.874631 2/1959Cooksley 99/400 3,142.748 7/1964 Warren 219/454 X 3.627.986 12/1971Anderson 219/460 3.632.982 1/1972 Linger 219/447 PrimaryExaminer-Vo1odymyr Y. Mayewsky Attorney, Agent, or FirmWoodard, Weikart,Emhardt & Naughton ABSTRACT A cooking stove or range adaptable forconversion to provide for different types of food cooking. The stove hasan open pan like recess means in the top thereof adaptable toselectively receive interchangeable types of cooking units or apparatustherein.

3' Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEU MAR 19 I974 SHEETIBFZ STOVE WITHSELECTIVELY INTERCHANGEABLE COOKING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates generally to a stove or range forproviding selectively interchangeable apparatus for accommodatingvarious cooking requirement. More specifically, it relates to a stovehaving recess means in the top thereof which selectively accommodatesvarious types of cooking apparatus, such as electric heating elementswith overlying grill, griddle or rotisserie for open-air cooking; or aself-contained interchangeable cartridge-type unit adapted to supportcooking utensils. As the cooking apparatus is received in the recesses,terminals extending from the heating elements are adapted to makecontact with an electrical source provided adjacent the recesses.

Additionally, the stove may be provided with forced air ventilatingmeans for entraining smoke, vaporized greases and odor laden gases,caused by cooking foods, for exhaustion to the atmosphere outside abuilding. The invention is not restricted, however, to use in a rangehaving such ventilation.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention toprovide a stove with selectively interchangeable cooking apparatus.

It is a further object of this invention. to provide a stove havingrecess means in the top thereof for selectively receiving plural typesof interchangeable cooking apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be more fullyunderstood and further objects and'advantages thereof will becomeapparent when reference is made to the following detailed description ofthe preferred embodiment of the invention and the accompanying drawingsin which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a free-standing range showing onearrangement of interchangeable cooking units;

FIG. 2 illustrates a stove top adapted to selectively receive cookingunits in various combinations;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through the stove forillustrating various components;

FIG. 4 is another cross-sectional view taken through a part of the stoveillustrating in-detail one recess and a cooking unit;

FIG. 5 is a full scale cross-sectional view of a part of a glass topcooking unit illustrating a ventilating slot;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the cookingunit;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view, similar to 6,"

showing a still further embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken through one of the stove recessesand looking toward the front wall for showing the electrical receptacle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Now referring to the drawings,and commencing with FIG. 1, there is illustrated in perspective view afreestanding range 10 provided with a glass covered cartridge-typecooking unit 12 on one side and an open-air broiler 14 on the otherside, each interchangeable with the other. This range is provided withan internal power driven exhaust fan and air ducting arrangement (notshown) for drawing a stream of air across each cooking surface forentraining smoke, vaporized grease and odor laden gases and intoentrance 16 of air plenum 15 for exhaustion through ducting to theatmosphere exteriorly of a building. Additional, a stream of air may beinduced to flow through the range for cooling internal portions or areasof the cooking apparatus.

FIG. 2 illustrates an upper surface of a stove 17 (either afree-standing range or counter drop-in type) provided with pan-likesheet metal recess means 18 and 20 for selectively receiving cookingapparatus such as a glass covered cartridge 12, a cartridge 24 withexposed heating elements or open heating element 26, which is adaptedfor multiple use with an overlying grill 14, flat griddle 30, rotisserie32, or shish kebab 34 (or french fryer, not illustrated). Each of thecooking units, whether in cartridge form, as illustrated by numerals 12or 24, or open heating element 26, is provided with bayonette-typeterminals 40 or 42 which are adapted to be removably received inelectrical outlet means provided in the front wall of each recess means18 and 20. FIG. 8, which is a cross sectional view taken through recess20 and looking toward the front of the range, illustrates electricaloutlet 43 adapted to receive either terminals 40 or 42. Electric powerto the outlets is controlled through switches 44 at the front of therange. Outlet 43, in addition to having plural terminals receptacles, isalso provided with a locator socket 46 for receiving centering pin 48,adjacent the terminals, for aiding proper entry of the bayonette typeterminals into the receptacle.

In FIG. 3 there is illustrated in cross section a countertop drop-intype ventilated range having recesses 18 and 20 in the top thereof forreceiving cooking units, such as a glass-covered cartridge-type unit 12or open element and grill for broiling. While the present invention isnot restricted to ranges having forced ventilating and cooling air, itis advantageous for lowering or preventing heat build-up in the stove.As illustrated in FIG.

"3, ventilating air is drawn from across each cooking unit forentraining smoke and cooking by products. for and conveying such throughplenum entrance 16 into plenum chamber, through fan 21 and out throughducting 23 for exit to the atmosphere. Additional streams of air may bedrawn through, or adjacent the recesses or cooking units for cooling, asillustrated by the arrows. This cooling air is drawn into the plenum 15through side vents and expelled to the atmosphere along with theventilating air.

The plenum chamber 15 and one recess containing one of the cookingapparatus is shown in considerable more detail in FIG. 4. Since recesses18 and 20 are identical, only one will be described. The range housing,as shown in FIG. 4, comprises a top defined by sheet portion 50 whichhas openings therein for providing access to plenum l5 and the recesses.A bottom wall 52 and upstanding side walls 54 thereabout are disposedbeneafii top 5ll in a manner tifdefine abu He r which is provided forpassage on to jar 69 grease drippings having fallen thereon. However,this provision has no particular utility when some of the other typecooking apparatus are received in the recess.

In the arrangement shown in FIG. 4, a removable cooking unit 12,comprising a pair of electric heating elements 70 provided in anunderlying metal housing 72 and covered by a heat transmissive glassplate 73 forms a cartridge like arrangement adaptable to be received inupwardly facing open recess 20 in position for providing heat forcooking. Housing 72 is provided with side walls 74 and a rim portion 76for supporting glass plate 73 around its periphery. An asbestos or othertype heat resistant resilient gasket 78 may be interposed between themetal rim and glass for proper sealing. A T-shaped hold-down ring 80surrounds the periphery of the rim and glass and is secured by rivets toa flange portion of the rim, in a manner illustrated in FIGS. -7, forholding the parts assembled as a cartridge. The capsule, identified bynumeral 12 in FIG. 2 defines a self contained cartridge-type cookingapparatus. The numeral 24 identifies a similar but differentcartridgetype cooking unit having open heat coils 81 and 82. Eitherglass plate 73 or coils 81, 82 adjacent a top plate 83 are provided tosupport cooking utensils.

In FIG. 5 it is shown that housing 72 of a glass top cartridge-typecooking unit may be provided with openings in the side wall for allowingpassage of cooling air. The hold-down ring 80 and gasket 78 are shown ata larger scale.

A molded form 90 of asbestos or similar heat insulating material, asillustrated in FIG. 6, is received in, housing 72 to support heatingelements 70, and to prevent excessive heat transfer to the bottom of thehousing. In FIG. 7, there is illustrated resilient means, such as a leafspring 91, to underlie molded form 90 for reducing possible strain orshock on glass plate 73.

For inserting cooking apparatus, such as identified by numerals l2 and24, into a recess 18 or 20, it is required that the front end of a unitcontaining terminals 40 be lowered first into the recess and then thewhole device moved toward the front of the recess for engagement of thebayonette-type terminals with outlet means 43. Thereafter the back endof the cooking unit is lowered into the recess where it issupported inposition by the peripheral flanges of ring 80. The steps are reversedfor removing a unit. It will be noted in FIG. 4 that openings 84 and 85on opposite walls 60 of the recess provide for the passage of coolingair in the space between walls 58 and 72 for removing excessive heat.

Either recess 18 or is adapted to receive an open heating element 26 inmuch the same manner that a cartridge-type unit is received. The endcontaining terminals 42 is similarly inserted into outlet 43 and theelement permitted to be supported from an underlying member 92 on plate91 which in turn rests on steps 90 on the wall of the pan. With anopenelement in position in a recess, a grill 14' or griddle is adaptedto be supported across the open to the recess for support food. Whenmeat is supported on grill 14, greases from the meat drip onto plate 91and are permitted to pass therethrough onto the bottom of the pan forcollection in jar 69. When griddle 30 is used, greases may be drainedfrom a peripheral trough thereabout into proximity to opening 66 forpassage on to collection jar 69.

When the rotisserie 32 or shish kebab 34 are positioned over element 26,legs or locator pins'a're received in the openings in lugs 93 from whichthey are supported.

Each cooking unit, whether of the cartridge-type such as identified bynumerals 12 and 24, or of the open type heating element 26, for use witha grill, griddle, rotisserie, shish kebab or french fryer, is adapted tobe selectively and and interchangeably received in either recess.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Since it is obvious that numerous modifications andchanges will occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired tolimit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed. Modifications may be made thereto, or substitutions made,which fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A cooking stove or range for receiving different types of heatsources in the top thereof for accommodating different types of cookingcomprising: a housing including at least one burner box having disposedtherein a pan shaped member forming an upwardly facing recess in the topthereof defined by walls'including a bottom wall having a portionprovided in communication with grease collecting means, said recessbeing provided with electrical outlet means accessibly adjacent thereto,one type of heat source comprising a unitized cartridge type cookingunit including an upper cooking surface heated by electrical resistancemeans having terminals, another type of heat source comprising openspaced-apart electrical resistance means having terminals and defining acooking unit for open-air broiling thereover, either of said cookingunits adapted to be removably received in said recess with the terminalsof its electrical resistance means in removable electrical engagementwith said accessible outlet means, said cartridge type cooking unit whenremovably inserted into said recess having its upper cooking surfacesubstantially closing the throat across said re- 'cess and providing asupport for cooking utensils resting thereon in heat conducting relationtherewith and said cartridge being spaced above the bottom wall of therecess to provide a cooling air space, said open broiling cooking unitwhen removably inserted into said recess for radiant cooking of meatssupported thereover being spaced above the bottom wall of the recess toprovide a cooling air space, greases emitted from the meats fallingthrough the openings between the resistance means and onto said bottomwall of the recess for collection in said grease collecting means, andair moving means for forcibly moving air through said cooling air space.

2. The cooking stove as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cooling air isforcibly moved along the upper surface of the recess bottom wallgenerally as a continuous stream in one direction.

3. A cooking stove or range adapted for removably receiving differenttypes of cooking units in the top thereof for accommodating differenttypes of cooking comprising: a housing including a burner .box havingside and bottom walls, said housing further including a pan-shapedmember forming an upwardly facing recess and having side and bottomwalls supported within the burner box and displacing less than thecomplete volume of the burner box whereby an air plenum is formed thethroat to the recess and the cartridge type cooking unit displaces lessthan the complete volume of said recess whereby a second plenum isformed between opposing walls, means for forcibly moving a stream ofcooling air through said plenums in heat exchange relationship so as tocarry away heat and minimize heat build-up therein.

1. A cooking stove or range for receiving different types of heat sources in the top thereof for accommodating different types of cooking comprising: a housing including at least one burner box having disposed therein a pan shaped member forming an upwardly facing recess in the top thereof defined by walls including a bottom wall having a portion provided in communication with grease collecting means, said recess being provided with electrical outlet means accessibly adjacent thereto, one type of heat source comprising a unitized cartridge type cooking unit including an upper cooking surface heated by electrical resistance means having terminals, another type of heat source comprising open spaced-apart electrical resistance means having terminals and defining a cooking unit for open-air broiling thereover, either of said cooking units adapted to be removably received in said recess with the terminals of its electrical resistance means in removable electrical engagement with said accessible outlet means, said cartridge type cooking unit when removably inserted into said recess having its upper cooking surface substantially closing the throat across said recess and providing a support for cooking utensils resting thereon in heat conducting relation therewith and said cartridge being spaced above the bottom wall of the recess to provide a cooling air space, said open broiling cooking unit when removably inserted into said recess for radiant cooking of meats supported thereover being spaced above the bottom wall of the recess to provide a cooling air space, greases emitted from the meats falling through the openings between the resistance means and onto said bottom wall of the recess for collection in said grease collecting means, and air moving means for forcibly moving air through said cooling air space.
 2. The cooking stove as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cooling air is forcibly moved along the upper surface of the recess bottom wall generally as a continuous stream in one direction.
 3. A cooking stove or range adapted for removably receiving different types of cooking units in the top thereof for accommodating different types of cooking comprising: a housing including a burner box having side and bottom walls, said housing further including a pan-shaped member forming an upwardly facing recess and having side and bottom walls supported within the burner box and displacing less than the complete volume of the burner box whereby an air plenum is formed between opposing walls, electrical outlet means adjacent the recess, a unitized cartridge type cooking unit having an upper cooking surface heated by electrical resistance means and having underlying side and bottom walls spaced from and beneath said resistance means, whereby when said cartridge type cooking unit is removably inserted into said recess with the resistance means energized through said electrical outlet means, its upper cooking surface substantially closes the throat to the recess and the cartridge type cooking unit displaces less than the complete volume of said recess whereby a second plenum is formed between opposing walls, means for forcibly moving a stream of cooling air through said plenums in heat exchange relationship so as to carry away heat and minimize heat build-up therein. 